Britain's greatest explorers

Freya Madeline Stark was the author of more than two dozen books on her
voyages through the Middle East and Afghanistan. She was also one of the
first non-Arabians to travel through the southern Arabian deserts.

By the 1930s, she had made several forays in western Iran, including some
areas where no Westerner had ever visited, explorations she describes in The
Valleys of the Assassins (1934).

After the Second World war, her main travels were to Turkey. Her last great
trip was to Afghanistan in the Seventies. She died in 1993, just short of
her 100th birthday.

Follow in her footsteps

For a slightly softer adventure, to Turkey try Peter Sommer Travels (01600
888220; petersommer.com)
has a range of land-based itineraries led by expert guides to Turkey.